Charlize Theron at Dior in New York was one of the bigger celebrities at Fashion’s Night Out, but she was only one of the many stars, designers — and shoppers — making the rounds. From Beijing to Berlin, Milan to New York, the retail and fashion industry did its bit to spur consumer spending. (Click to see all the images from the events in New York and across Europe.)

The session of Congress that kicked off this week will see the administration of President Obama and the Democratic Party battle to get their agenda back on track after three months of rising political temperatures. The House and Senate will take up a slew of milestone issues ranging from health care reform to clean energy, spending bills and financial regulatory overhaul to international trade and union organizing legislation. Also this week, the U.S. Department of Labor released a 194-page report listing goods from 58 countries that were “believed” to have been made with child or forced labor in violation of international labor standards. Meanwhile, textile and apparel imports to the U.S. from South Asia increased in July as shipments from most other countries fell.

In an unusual move to jump-start what has been a sluggish brand rejuvenation, Emanuel Ungaro has tapped an almost unknown chief designer — Estrella Archs — and an “artistic adviser” who is arguably too well-known — Lindsay Lohan. The Spanish designer and the actress/singer/tabloid sensation are slated to present their first collection in Paris on Oct. 4, likely coming out together at the end of the runway for a bow. (Click to see all the images.)

Belinda Earl, who has purchased Aquascutum Group Ltd. with Harold Tillman, said the plan is to broaden the brand’s reach, expand the accessories lines, and push deeper into the U.S., European, Russian and Middle Eastern markets. She said there were no plans to change Aquascutum’s luxury positioning, or to make it a men’s-only brand that would complement the women’s clothing line of Jaeger, which Earl and Tillman also own.

Neiman Marcus Inc. may be losing money and cutting inventories and expenses, but there’s no backing away from the mission. “This downturn dramatically impacted our customers both financially and emotionally. However, we are confident our customers still have a strong desire for luxury merchandise and the wherewithal to shop,” said Burt Tansky, president and chief executive officer, during a conference call reviewing fourth-quarter and year-end results and the priorities for surviving the Great Recession.

Consumers crave color for spring — and designers are providing it. “The vibrancy of the top five colors [for women] — versus the neutrals we see toward the bottom of the ranking — show that designers are choosing optimism for the season,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, which disclosed the top 10 colors chosen by New York designers in the Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2010. See also the Top 10 Pantone colors for men’s collections. (Click to see the full WWD List or download the PDF.)

Anna Sui for Target, part of the retailer’s Designer Collaboration series, channels the well-dressed women of the “Gossip Girl” TV show and debuts in 600 select Target stores out of more than 1,700 units, and on Sunday at target.com/annasui. Sui had wanted to design for Target for some time but “couldn’t figure out what the concept would be,” she said. When the retailer approached her with Designer Collaborations and the muse element, the project began to make more sense. During a trip to China in January when she was launching a fragrance, Sui said she was bombarded by teenagers asking the same questions related to “Gossip Girl”: “Where’s Williamsburg?” and “What’s uptown?”

Before “Gossip Girl” became must-see TV, with viewers tuning in to check out Eric Daman’s costuming or ratings stunts such as Ed Westwick’s same-sex smooch, WWD snagged the show’s leading ladies to talk fashion. “I wish I had the money for style like that,” said Leighton Meester of her character Blair Waldorf’s sophisticated wardrobe. Meester sat for WWD along with Blake Lively and Taylor Momsen in August 2007, a month before the series premiere. (Click to read the original story and see all the images.)

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